The sermon by Eric Bechler explores the doctrine of the church, focusing on who is qualified to preach the Word. While traditionally bishops or pastors are seen as primary preachers, the sermon emphasizes that others, gifted by the Holy Spirit and called by the church, can also preach. The sermon references biblical examples like Philip in Samaria, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, and teachings from 1 Peter, highlighting that non-elders have preached effectively. It underscores that preaching should be done for God's glory, guided by the Holy Spirit, and that these gifts are from God, not for personal pride. Church elders should recognize and encourage those with preaching gifts, preparing future preachers and leaders. The sermon concludes with a call for self-examination concerning one's priorities and the use of gifts for God's glory.

Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches to be instant in preaching the word by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them, but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it and approved and called by the church may and ought to perform it." We continue in our examination of the doctrine of the church. Our focus the last few weeks has been on church officers, elders, and deacons. Today we focus on those upon whom the work of the preaching of the word is carried out. As we've covered previously, the elders labor in the Word and doctrine, 1 Timothy 5.17. They give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word, Acts 6.4, which includes the preaching of the Word.

In fact, one of the qualifications to become an elder is the ability to teach. First Timothy 3.2. He must be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1.9. Paul in his second epistle exhorts Timothy to preach the word.

Be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort, and with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4, 2. But are the elders or pastors the only ones who are allowed to preach. Our paragraph today answers this with a no, that the preaching of the Word is not so peculiarly confined to the bishops or pastors of the churches. The confession states that others, also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit may and ought to preach the Word when approved and called by the church.

So we believe the answer is no, but with two qualifiers. First, the person should be gifted in this by the Holy Spirit, and second is to be called by their church. What does Scripture say? Do we have any examples of anyone not an elder preaching the Word throughout Scripture? I'll present three examples that were offered in the list of proof texts for this paragraph.

We can turn to Acts 8, and we find Philip going to a city of Samaria to preach Christ to them in Acts 8.5. This is not Philip the apostle, for the apostle stayed in Jerusalem. And how do we know that they stayed in Jerusalem? We learn this from verse 1. And all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

John Gill comments here, the twelve apostles stayed at Jerusalem to take care of the church, to encourage the members of it to suffer cheerfully for the sake of Christ and His Gospel, and to animate them to abide in Him. This Philip is probably one of the seven chosen by the church in Jerusalem listed in Acts 6 verse 5. Not an apostle, not an elder or pastor. I'll read Acts 8, 5 through 8. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city." So we see here Philip preaching Christ to them. He was preaching the word. Another example comes from Acts 11 verses 19 through 21.

Now those who were scattered after the persecutions that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. So after Stephen was martyred, there was an increase in the persecution of believers in Jerusalem and believers fled and scattered. In this passage, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and preached Christ, they preached the word.

There is no indication in scripture here that these were elders or pastors. The text indicates only that they were believers from Cyprus and Cyrene and had fled Jerusalem. In our third example, Peter in writing to the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bessinia states as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God. Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by or from the strength which God supplies.

So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. This comes from 1 Peter 4, 10, and 11. But what is this special gift? The implication here is it's a gift from God.

Barnes' notes on the Bible explains the word rendered the gift, charisma in the Greek, is without the article means endowments. Endowment of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others. We find two actions in this passage, first speaking, the other serving. McGill comments for what is meant here if any man speak, not in any manner or on any subject, and not in a private manner, nor about things natural and civil, but in public and concerning divine things.

He is to speak everything that is in the word and keep nothing back but to declare the whole counsel of God and only what is in it without mixing his own chaff or the doctrines of men with it, and it should be spoken in a manner agreeably to it, not as the word of man, but as the word of God, and not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but in the words of the Holy Ghost. Peter is telling these disciples that if they are gifted by the Holy Spirit to preach, they are to preach. They preach the word of God. In our previous example with the men from Cyprus and Cyrene, we read that the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. It seems that they were also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for preaching the word.

Finally, in our first example, Philip was chosen and called by the church. He was seen as one who was a man of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom in preaching Christ to the Samaritans. In Each of the examples, we find some indication that these men were gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit, as the Confession states. We must remember though that these gifts, any gifts for that matter, are from God, are to be used to glorify Him and to serve the body of Christ. They're not to be used to build up our pride or to bring us to a place that we think we are better than others.

Paul warns believers to not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly. Romans 12.3. We all have gifts and they differ according to the grace God has given each of us. Romans 12.6. The second qualifier mentioned is that they should be approved and called by the church.

The elders should notice those in their flock who may have the gift of preaching or teaching and encourage them to develop those gifts to provide opportunities to preach or teach on Sundays or other times. Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy in 2 2, what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses in trust, which means commit or teach these things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. We all, every one of us, must be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you who asks, to anyone who asks, 1 Peter 3.15. We should all be ready to share the gospel in any opportunity that God brings to us. But we, and I'm speaking of the elders, we also need and look for young men to become the next preachers, the next elders or deacons.

We need to prepare and equip the next generation. If you feel called or gifted in this area, please come and speak with one of us. Likewise, if we've noticed these gifts in one of you, we'll probably mention it in our one-on-one discussions that we have with you. There are opportunities Wednesday night for street preaching, and one of the elders is absent, we'll need someone to step up and present the teaching of the London Baptist Confession. Or for some unexpected reason that both of us would be absent, we would need someone who could preach the word faithfully and truly.

How sad it would be for our church if there was no one to do that. I'd like to end with some words from Matthew Henry. The nature of a man's work, which is high work and hard work, The goodness of the Master and the excellence of the reward all require that our endeavors should be serious and earnest. In all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. He is a miserable and unsettled wretch who cleaves to himself and forgets God.

He is only perplexed about his credit and gain and base ends which are often broken and which when he attains both he and they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself and his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion, and nothing but glory through Christ Jesus is solid and lasting that abideth forever. Deep down, hit in the depths of each of us, each of you is going to do what you want to do. You can rationalize it. You can make excuses.

But fundamentally, you're going to do what you want to do. Are you using the gifts that God has given specifically to you? Are you using them for His glory? Do you really want to glorify God? Do you really want to serve Him and serve the body of Christ?

Look at yourself. Examine the choices that you're making each day, each week, even on Sundays. Look at your priorities. They show who are you really serving And who are you really living for? I would encourage each of you, including myself, to spend time, some time this week thinking about these kind of questions.

Who am I really serving? Who am I really living for? Do my choices and priorities really reflect what I think where I'm at? Amen.